CITY OF YORK 1869-1899
City of York Painting, artist unknown
Description
CITY OF YORK 1869-1899
Construction
Iron Hull
Size
tons 1167, length 67.9m, beam 10.9m, depth 6.6m
Built
1869 in Glasgow, U.K. by J. Elder and Co.
Owner
Ship City of York Company Ltd.
Sunk
12th July 1899
Location
200 metres offshore in City of York Bay
Latitude/Longitude
(-31.99415, 115.48899)
Sinking
City of York struck the reef during a storm after misinterpreting signals sent from the lighthouse keeper on Rottnest island. She carried a cargo of timber and doors. About half her cargo eventually washed ashore and was salvaged. Her master and 11 crewmen lost their lives, but seven men were able to reach the shore after about four hours. Two men made their way to the lighthouse to raise the alarm.
Underwater
Bow facing the shore, she lies on a rock bottom in around 7 metres of water. The ship has broken up leaving a tangle of iron ribs, beams and plates, with one deck winch and sections of windlass the only machinery apparent.
Gallery
Location
Videos
Video by Dave Jackson, Diving WA shipwrecks